Understanding the New WGEA Gender Pay Gap Reporting Requirements

In February 2024, the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) released employer-level gender pay gap data publicly for the first time. Although organisations with 100+ employees have been reporting to WGEA since the Workplace Gender Equality Act was introduced in 2012, this data was previously confidential.

Now, gender equality performance is openly accessible via the WGEA platform, enabling employees, customers, investors and competitors to see how organisations compare.

Key Findings From the Latest Data

The newly published results showed significant variation across sectors:

• Private sector average gender pay gap (FY23-24): 21.8%
  For every dollar men earned, women earned 78 cents — an annual difference of $28,425.
• Public sector total remuneration gap: 6.4%
  Equivalent to an $8,200 difference per year.

These figures highlight the growing expectation for organisations to take meaningful action on gender equality.

What Organisations Need to Do

Organisations must review their performance across WGEA’s six Gender Equality Indicators (GEIs), which act as a roadmap for improving equity and transparency:

Turning Indicators Into Action

WGEA encourages organisations to use the GEIs to drive measurable improvements. This includes:

• Analysing recruitment, promotion and retention trends by gender
• Setting clear representation targets and pathways for advancement
• Conducting regular pay equity audits and addressing identified gaps
• Strengthening policies for flexible work, parental leave and family violence support
• Establishing formal consultation and feedback mechanisms
• Implementing robust prevention strategies with leadership accountability

How Cress Consulting Can Help

If your organisation has more than 100 employees, Cress Consulting can support you in understanding the WGEA requirements, preparing your reporting, and developing a tailored gender equality strategy that meets legislative obligations while strengthening organisational culture.

Get in touch with our team to learn more.

Cress is the Hydroflux Group’s in-house sustainability consulting team, operating as a specialised division and driven by a simple but powerful goal: to help organisations across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific region create a more sustainable future. As a young and agile team, we combine technical expertise with fresh, forward-thinking approaches to help clients navigate complex challenges across climate risk, emissions reduction, modern slavery, water stewardship, and ESG reporting, building on the Hydroflux legacy of engineering excellence while bringing a sustainability lens to the industries and communities shaping the future of our region.